Decoupling device for mounting a shaft on a base and radial ondular washer

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a decoupling device for mounting a shaft, particularly the shaft of a spherical-disk-shaped enveloping gear operating with a chain as an enveloping means, on a base. The inventive decoupling device comprises an outer bearing ring which has a circular cylindrical outer surface and inside which the shaft is mounted, and an inner surface which is rigidly connected to the base and surrounds the outer surface. At least one radial ondular washer is disposed between the outer surface and the inner surface. Said radial ondular washer allows the inner surface and the outer surface to be radially moved relative to each other to a limited degree while being elastically deformed.

The invention concerns a decoupling device for mounting a shaft on a base, in particular a shaft of a CVT transmission that has a chain that functions as the endless torque-transmitting means. The invention also concerns a radial ondular washer for such a decoupling device.

Belt-driven conical-pulley transmissions with a continuously variable transmission ratio have being used lately increasingly more frequently in motor vehicles. Such belt-driven conical-pulley transmissions comprise two pairs of conical disks mounted on shafts installed with a mutual spacing, around which is wound in frictional engagement with the conical surfaces of the conical disk pairs an endless torque-transmitting means. The transmission ratio of the transmission can be changed continuously by changing the spacing between the pairs of endless torque-transmitting means by moving them in mutually opposite directions. Metallic chains are used as endless torque-transmitting means, in particular in transmissions with which higher torques can be transmitted, for example, torques within the range of 300 Nm and higher.

It is an object of the invention to reduce the noise transmission, in particular the transmission of structure-borne noise, from the endless torque-transmitting means into the interior of the motor vehicle.

This object is attained with a decoupling device for the bearing arrangement of a shaft on a base, in particular a shaft of a belt-driven conical pulley transmission with a chain that functions as the belt, comprising an outer bearing ring configured with a circularly cylindrical outer surface, inside which the shaft is mounted, and an inner surface that encloses the outer surface and is fixedly connected to the housing, wherein at least one radial ondular washer is arranged between the outer surface and the inner surface, which allows a limited relative radial movement between the inner surface and the outer surface by elastic deformation.

Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the decoupling devices in accordance with the invention are mentioned by way of example below, while these examples are not exclusive.

At least two radial ondular washers are arranged axially side by side at a mutual spacing. A stop ring is arranged between the radial ondular washers, and this stop ring is configured in such a way that it comes into contact with the inner surface and the outer surface after a predetermined relative radial movement between the outer surface and the inner surface, and prevents thus any further relative radial movement.

The radial ondular washer is configured with internal and external humps, which are in constant contact with the outer surface or the inner surface.

The radial ondular washer is provided with stop humps on its inside and/or outside, so that there is a clearance between these humps and the outer surface or the inner surface in the case of a centered arrangement of the inner surface relative to the outer surface.

The heights of the stop humps differ in such a way that, in the case of a radial displacement of the outer surface relative to the inner surface, several humps, which are mutually spaced in the peripheral direction, come into contact with the outer surface or the inner surface.

A positioning device is provided, by means of which at least one radial ondular washer is fixed in the peripheral direction.

The radial ondular washers are slotted, and the positioning device comprises a component that engages with the slot of the radial ondular washers and a recess configured in the inner surface.

In another embodiment, the radial ondular washers are also slotted, and the positioning device is formed by an extension configured on the inner surface or the outer surface, which engages with the slot of the radial ondular washers.

The slot of the radial ondular washers is arranged in such a way relative to the humps that are configured on the inside and/or the outside of the radial ondular washers, that the humps of two neighboring shaft springs, which are mutually rotated by 180°, are displaced relative to each another in the peripheral direction.

The slot runs obliquely with respect to the radial direction.

The radial ondular washers are slotted, and the positioning device is configured in such a way that the radial ondular washers end in axially running pegs in the direction of the slot, wherein the peg of an axially outermost radial ondular washer engages with a recess configured in the base, and the pegs of inner radial shafts [sic; radial ondular washers] each engage with the slot of an neighboring radial ondular washer.

The outer surface and/or the inner surface is provided with a groove in which at least one radial ondular washer is inserted.

On at least one axial edge of the outer surface and the inner surface is configured a radially running lateral surface, and at least one supporting component is provided, by means of which the lateral surfaces are mutually supported.

At least one radial ondular washer is provided with radial and axial undulations and limits the displaceability between the outer surface and the inner surface.

On the outer surface and lateral surfaces running radially thereto is fitted a sleeve with an overall U-shaped cross section, and between the sleeve and the outer surface is arranged at least one radial ondular washer.

The radial lateral surfaces of the outer surface are mutually radially supported in axial direction in an elastically flexible manner on radial lateral surfaces of the inner surface via the overall radially running, curved lateral walls of the sleeve

The lateral walls of the sleeve are supported in axial direction via at least one axially flexible radial ondular washer in an elastically flexible manner on the component configured with the outer surface.

A spring sleeve that forms the radial ondular washer having an overall U-shaped cross section is fitted on the outer surface and lateral surfaces running radially with respect thereto, whose overall axis-parallel running base bulges out radially.

The base of the spring sleeve has at least two axially spaced peripheral radial undulations having an axial wavelength direction.

An annular region projects between the radial undulations into a peripheral recess of the outer surface.

The base of the spring sleeve has at least one radial undulation having a wavelength direction running in the peripheral direction.

The radial undulations of the base having axially and/or peripherally running direction of the wavelength have different heights.

Radial lateral surfaces of the outer surface are mutually radially supported in axial direction in an elastically flexible manner on radial lateral surfaces of the inner surface via the overall radially running, curved lateral walls of the sleeve.

The radial lateral walls of the spring sleeve are supported radially on an annular shoulder on radial lateral walls of the outer surface, and the base of the spring sleeve resting on the inner surface is configured in curved shape.

The spring sleeve is configured with radial slots that cut through the base wall.

A peripheral projection of the base engages with an annular groove of the inner surface.

An annular surface is configured on at least one lateral surface, which axially limits the inner surface and runs radially inward, and on which the spring sleeve is axially supported.

The lateral walls of the spring sleeve are configured so as to be axially and/or radially elastically flexible.

The radial ondular washer is formed by spring segments that extend over parts of the periphery of the inner surface or the outer surface.

The at least one radial ondular washer is arranged on a radially loaded side of the bearing arrangement and extends only over part of the periphery, and a positioning device is provided, which fixes the positioning of the at least one radial ondular washer in the peripheral direction.

Examples of advantageous embodiments of radial ondular washers in accordance with the invention are mentioned below, which can be used in the decoupling device in accordance with the invention.

A radial ondular washer for enclosing at least part of the periphery of a circularly cylindrical outer surface has supporting humps for providing a permanent contact with the outer surface and an inner surface that is concentric with respect to the outer surface and encloses the outer surface, which are configured spaced in the peripheral direction on the radial outer side and the radial inner side.

A radial ondular washer for enclosing at least part of the periphery of a circularly cylindrical outer surface has stop humps for providing contact with the outer surface and an inner surface that is normally concentric with respect to the outer surface and encloses the outer surface after a predetermined radial displacement of the outer surface relative to the inner surface, which are configured spaced in the peripheral direction on the radial outer side and the radial inner side.

The humps can merely be formed by the undulations of the radial ondular washer.

A radial ondular washer configured with humps has a slot that is arranged in such a way relative to the humps that, if two radial ondular washers rotated with respect to each other by 180° are arranged axially side by side and with their slots facing each other, the corresponding humps are displaced with respect to each other.

The aforementioned slot runs transversely relative to the radial direction.

The radial ondular washer is provided with radial and axial arched regions.

A radial ondular washer for enclosing at least part of the periphery of a bearing ring that is configured with a circularly cylindrical outer surface and radial lateral surfaces adjacent thereon, is configured as a spring sleeve with an overall U-shaped cross section that encloses at least one peripheral segment of the bearing ring, wherein at least the base of the spring sleeve has an elastically deformable arched region.

The base of the aforementioned radial ondular washer is configured with a radial projection that runs in the peripheral direction.

The decoupling device in accordance with the invention and the radial ondular washer or springs in accordance with the invention can be used for any kind of bearing arrangement. They are used advantageously in roller bearings, wherein, for example, the shafts of a belt-driven conical pulley transmission are mounted with these roller bearings.

The invention will be described in detail below by way of example with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1, 3, 5, 7, 13, 18, 20, 22, 26, 28, 30, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44 and 45 show partial section views of bearing arrangements seen cut parallel to the axis of the bearing axis;

FIGS. 2, 4, 6, 8, 14, 15, 16, 27, 29, 37, 39 and 43 show partial section views of different embodiments of bearing arrangements seen cut vertically to the axis of the bearing axis;

FIGS. 9 and 11 show partial lateral views of two different embodiments of radial ondular washers;

FIGS. 10 and 12 show sectors of the views of FIGS. 9 and 11;

FIG. 17 shows a partial plan view, partially in section, of a bearing arrangement having a special embodiment of the radial ondular washers;

FIGS. 19 and 21 show partial lateral views of radial ondular washers;

FIG. [sic] 23 shows an enlarged sector of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 shows a partial lateral view of a radial ondular washer;

FIG. 25 shows a partial plan view of radial ondular washers arranged side by side;

FIG. 31 shows an enlarged sector of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 shows a partial lateral view of a radial ondular washer;

FIG. 33 shows a partial plan view of radial ondular washers arranged side by side;

FIG. 35 shows a detail of FIG. 34;

FIG. 41 shows an enlarged sector of FIG. 40;

FIGS. 46 and 47 show partial section views and partial lateral views of two further embodiments of radial ondular washers;

FIGS. 48 and 49 show perspective views of two different arrangements of radial ondular washer segments with positioning components; and

FIG. 50 show a lateral view of a radial ondular washer segment as used in FIGS. 48 and 49.

In accordance with FIG. 1, the shaft (which is not shown) of a pair of cone-shaped belt pulley pair of a belt-driven conical pulley transmission is enclosed by an inner bearing ring 2, wherein between the bearing ring and an outer bearing ring 4 arranged concentrically relative thereto are arranged roller elements 6, so that components 2, 4 and 6 collectively form a roller bearing. It is understood that the outer surface of the inner bearing ring 2, on which the roller elements 6 roll, can be formed directly by an correspondingly machined outer surface of the shaft (which is not shown). The outer bearing ring 4 is accommodated in an annular recess on a base 8, for example, the housing of the transmission, which is closed on the right by a removable cover 10.

The outer surface of the outer bearing ring 4 is not supported directly at the base of the annular recess, but rather by interposing different annular components and of a shell 12 optionally fit into the annular recess. More exactly, four annular-shaped radial ondular washers 18 a, between which are arranged stop rings 20 a to secure the axial spacing, are arranged between the outer surface 14 of the outer bearing ring 4 and the inner surface 16 of the shell 12 in the example that is shown. Spacing rings 22 a are provided axially outside on both sides.

The stiffness of the radial ondular washers is such that the desired stiffness of the bearing arrangement with respect to radial displacements of the bearing shaft (which is not show) is achieved via the four radial ondular washer rings or radial ondular washers. While the radial ondular washers 18 a are shaped in such a way that they are constantly in contact outer surface 14 and the inner surface 16, as shown in FIG. 2, wherein a detail view of FIG. 1 is shown in direction A-A, the stop rings 20 are dimensioned in such a way that a radial clearance d exists between them and the housing ring 12. In this way, the outer bearing ring 4 in accordance with FIG. 2 can be moved upward over a distance d by elastic deformation of the radial ondular washers 18 a until the stop rings 20 come into contact with the inner surface 16.

The housing ring 12, which is manufactured of steel, for example, is optional and serves, for example, for preventing abrasion of the recess or the bore of the base 8, which can be made of a light metal.

In the following exemplary embodiments, which will be described with reference to views similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, only those components that are essential for the description are provided with respective reference numerals.

While in the case of the exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2, the radial ondular washers 18 a have an essentially constant cross section along the periphery and are provided with undulations only in the peripheral direction, the radial ondular washers 18 b in accordance with FIGS. 3 and 4 are provided with humps, but only positioning rings 22 are provided between the radial ondular washers 18 b and axially on the outside.

As can be seen in FIG. 4, the radial ondular washers 18 a are provided spaced in the peripheral direction with supporting humps 24 on the inside and the outside, which are configured in such a way that they constant contact with the outer surface 14 or the inner surface 16. Between the supporting humps 24 are configured stop humps 26, so that between the humps 26 and the respective surfaces in the unloaded state of the bearing arrangement there is a clearance e toward the outside, and a clearance f toward the inside. As shown, the stop humps 26 are preferably located on the side of the radial ondular washers 18 opposite to the supporting humps 24. The stop humps 26 act as stops with at a certain degree of deformation of the radial ondular washers 18 b so that, under high load, the supporting humps and also the stop humps form bearing points for supporting the outer bearing ring 4 on the base 8, whereby is obtained a uniform support of the roller bearing.

The FIGS. 5 and 6 show an embodiment of the bearing arrangement or the decoupling of the outer bearing ring 4 from the base corresponding largely to the one shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, by means of which the transmission of noise from the roller bearing into the base is reduced. In the embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 5 and 6, the stop humps 26 are configured with different heights. Let it be assumed that the bearing is loaded or radially displaced vertically upward in the direction of the arrow S. If a clearances e and f along the periphery are identical, the clearance f is depleted completely at the apex S, whereas a residual clearance remains between the neighboring stop humps and the respective surfaces, since the approach at these locations is less in accordance with the peripheral angle φ.

To ensure that the stops become effective at the same time, the radial clearances at the individual humps are adapted in accordance with the respective angular position. This leads to a more uniform distribution of the load on the bearing. The following equation applies to the individual clearances: x(φ)=x _(max)·cos(φ), wherein x_(max) is the individual clearance at the apex.

It is advantageous in many regards to fix the radial ondular washers or spring rings in the peripheral direction. The positioning of the radial ondular washers in the peripheral direction can be accomplished in different ways.

In accordance with FIGS. 7 and 8, a pin 28, which engages with a recess 30 on the housing ring 12, additionally engages with a slot 32, which forms the radial ondular washers 18. As can be seen immediately, the pin 28 is thus held immovably in the peripheral direction between the outer bearing ring 4 and the housing ring 12, so that it fixes the radial ondular washer or springs 18 in the peripheral direction.

It is advantageous if the undulations or humps of neighboring radial ondular washers are displaced relative to each other in the peripheral direction in order to achieve a loading of the bearing that is as uniform as possible. In order to realize a mutual displacement of the radial ondular washers that are fixed in the peripheral direction would have to be produced different radial ondular washers with a different relative arrangement of the slot and humps or undulations. In order to reduce the multitude of variants, it is advantageous to place the slot 32 in such a way between the humps, that the desired positioning is achieved with an installation of the radial ondular washers that is alternatively reversed; that is, with an installation of the radial ondular washers rotated by 180°.

It is advantageous to apply the slot 32 centrally between a radially outer supporting hump 24 and a radially inner supporting hump 24 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, wherein FIG. 10 shows an enlarged sector of FIG. 9.

As can be seen immediately in FIG. 10, a radially outwardly directed supporting hump is located to the left of the pin 28, and a radially inwardly directed supporting hump is located to the right of the pin 28. In addition, a stop hump is located to the left of the pin opposite the supporting hump 24 and directed radially inward, and a stop hump 28 is located to the right of the pin 28, which is located opposite the supporting hump 24 and is directed radially outward. In the case of an installation of the radial ondular washer 18 b, which is rotated by 180° is obtained the arrangement shown with the dashed lines; that is, a supporting hump is adjacent to a respective stop hump.

It is understood that there are numerous further possibilities of arranging the humps or undulations and the slots, with which a force distribution that is as uniform as possible is obtained with a small variety of components with regard to the radial ondular washer.

Because of the slight differences in the heights of the humps, it is difficult to determine the correct installation; that is, the respective installation rotated by 180° in the configuration of the radial ondular washers in accordance with FIGS. 9 and 10. This object can be attained in that the slot 32 is configured with lateral walls 34 running transversely to the radial direction. It can easily seen in this way whether the axially adjacent radial ondular washers are mounted rotated by 180°.

The most widely different possibilities exist for fixing the radial ondular washers 18 on the periphery relative to the base 8. FIGS. 13 and 14 show a feather key 36 that is inserted into a groove in the base 8 and passes through slots in the housing ring 12 and in the radial field [could be a typo and actually be intended to be “shaft”] spring 18.

FIG. 15 shows an embodiment in which the housing ring 12 is provided with a radial rib that engages with the slot 32 of the radial ondular washer 18.

In the exemplary embodiment in accordance with FIG. 16, the radial ondular washer 18 is provided with a radially outwardly running rib 40, which engages with a recess of the housing ring 12. The housing ring 12 is immovably held on the base 8 in the peripheral direction.

An additional arrangement for axially fixing the radial ondular washers is illustrated in FIG. 17. In this embodiment, each radial ondular washer 18 c ends in an axially running projection or peg 42 on one side of the slot 32. The peg 42 of the axially outermost radial ondular washer engages with a recess 44 that is configured in a radial surface of the base 8. The pegs 42 of the axially neighboring radial ondular washers each engage with the slot 32 of the neighboring radial ondular washer on the right hand side in accordance with FIG. 17. The radial ondular washer rings can be manufactured inexpensively as stamped out flexible components.

Additional advantageous embodiments of mechanisms with which the bearing can be decoupled from the base are described below with reference to FIGS. 18 through 25.

In accordance with FIG. 18, the outer surface of the outer bearing ring 4 is provided with a wide peripheral groove 46 in which radial ondular washers 18 b are arranged. Radial ondular washers 18 b can be preinstalled in a similar manner, for example, like securing rings are installed in shaft grooves. The shoulders of the outer bearing ring 4 (enlarged illustration X), which remain axially outside of the peripheral groove 46, can form directly a radial stop. In addition, O-rings 48 for axial guidance purposes can be installed between the lateral walls of the base 8 or of the annular cover 10 and the outer bearing ring.

The embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 20 and 21 differs from that of FIGS. 19 and 19 only in that several grooves 46, in which one single radial ondular washer 18 b is arranged in turn, are configured in the outer surface of the outer ring bearing 4.

In the embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 22 through 25, the outer bearing ring 4 is provided with two peripheral grooves 46, wherein three radial ondular washers 18 c are arranged in the left peripheral groove in accordance with FIG. 22, and four radial ondular washers 18 c are arranged in the peripheral groove 46 that is radially open to the right. The opposite surface or inner surface 16, which is configured on the base 8, has a step 50 on which the left hand axial shaft spring is supported. The axially outermost radial ondular washer 18 c in the right peripheral groove 46 is supported by a radially running lateral surface 52 of the annular cover 10. FIG. 23 shows the detail X of FIG. 22 in the form of an enlarged illustration. In terms of their radial span, the individual radial ondular washers 18 c are configured with humps in a similar manner, for example, to the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 4 (see FIG. 24). In addition, the radial ondular washers 18 c are provided with undulations in the axial direction as can be seen in FIG. 25, which shows a plan view of part of the axially neighboring radial ondular washers 18 c. An undocking or acoustic decoupling of the bearing from the base is achieved in the radial and axial direction via the arrangement in accordance with FIGS. 22 through 25. The nose 54 of the outer bearing ring 4, which is configured between the peripheral grooves 46, can be utilized as a stop.

It is understood that the arrangement in accordance with FIGS. 22 through 25 can be modified in many ways in a similar manner as that of the other exemplary embodiments. The number of grooves, the undulations of the radial ondular washers, or their design with humps, the axial and radial guidance, and the stops can each be configured in ways that correspond to the intended purpose by modifying the number of radial ondular washers, grooves, additional axial undulations, the use of O rings, et cetera.

FIGS. 26 and 27 show the arrangement of radial ondular washers 18 a between the outer bearing ring 4 and an annular sleeve 54 that is fitted on the outer bearing ring 4, which has, in overall terms, a U-shaped cross section. The radial ondular washers 18 a are seated loosely on the outer bearing ring 4 and are held axially by positioning rings 22 that are arranged between the outer radial ondular washers and the radial lateral walls 56 of the sleeve 54. The sleeve can be produced inexpensively, for example, as a formed sheet metal component, and functions at the same time as an axial spring, similarly to a disk spring, due to the arched configuration of the lateral walls 56 in accordance with the intended purpose. In this way, the bearing in accordance with FIGS. 26 and 27 is axially and radially undocked from the base 8.

The embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 28 and 29 differs from that of FIGS. 26 and 27 in that radial ondular washers 18 b provided with humps are used instead of the radial ondular washers 18 a, and in that positioning rings 22 are arranged between the radial ondular washers 18 b.

In the embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 30 through 33, the outer ring 4 of the bearing is provided with two peripheral grooves 46, which are enclosed by a sleeve ring 54, that open axially outward and in which radial ondular washers 18 c are arranged axially and radially. In the case of this embodiment, the sleeve 54 is doubly bent over in the region of the transition from its base to the lateral walls 56 and serves for holding the radial ondular washers 18 c in an axially and radially preloaded manner. The sleeve itself does not have the function of an axial spring. The function of the axial spring or the axial decoupling is assumed by the radial ondular washers 18 c, which are likewise provided with axial undulations. The sleeve 54 serves merely as a stop. FIG. 31 shows the enlarged sector X of FIG. 30. FIG. 32 shows a lateral view of a radial ondular washer 18 c, and FIG. 33 shows a plan view of a sector of the radial ondular washers 18 c, which are arranged side by side and are also provided with axial undulations.

Exemplary embodiments of decoupling devices in which the radial ondular washers are formed by an annular-shaped spring sleeve will be described below with reference to FIGS. 34 through 45.

In accordance with FIG. 34, an annular-shaped spring sleeve 18 d having an overall U-shaped cross section, encloses the outer bearing ring 4 in the axial and radial direction. The base of the spring sleeve 18 d has a radial undulation with an axial undulation wavelength arrangement, which is configured in such a way that a peripheral groove 58 is produced, which is visible from the outside. FIG. 35 shows the sector X of FIG. 34 in the form of an enlarged illustration. It can be seen clearly how the outer surface 14 is also configured with a flat recess, so that the axial clearance d formed outside of the recess or the groove 58 is smaller between the inside of the spring sleeve 18 d and the outer surface 14 of the outer ring 4 than the radial undulation of the spring sleeve 18 d. This clearance d is available for radial displacement of the bearing, and can be adjusted via the depth of the recess and the height of the undulation in accordance with the intended purpose intended.

The embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 34 and 35 is characterized relative to the previously described embodiments by its especially simple configuration with only a few parts. It is understood that the configuration of the outer surface 14 of the outer ring 4 with a peripherally peripheral recess or groove is not mandatory. With the aid of the flat groove in the outer surface 14 of the outer bearing ring 4 it can be achieved that the height of the arch of the spring sleeve 18 d can be selected independently from the radial clearance d.

As can also be seen in FIG. 34, the lateral walls 62 of the spring sleeve 18 d can additionally be arched outward, for example, in the region of the transition to the base 60, so that the spring sleeve assumes the function of an axial spring and a radial spring.

The spring sleeve 18 d in accordance with FIG. 34 has a radial arch or undulation in the axial undulation direction. In contrast to this, the spring sleeve 18 e of the embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 36 and 37 has a radial undulation with an undulation wavelength that runs in the peripheral direction, as can be seen in FIG. 37, wherein is shown a view in the direction of the arrows II-II of FIG. 36. With the embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 36 and 36 is achieved the advantage that a greater elastic flexibility is obtained with the greatest possible undulation wavelengths.

The FIGS. 38 and 39 show a combination of the embodiments of the spring sleeve in accordance with FIGS. 34 through 37, wherein the spring sleeve 18 d [sic; 18 f?] of FIGS. 38 and 39 has a radial undulation with an axial undulation wavelength direction that runs in the peripheral direction. A still greater energy absorption capacity is achieved in this way because of the elastic deformations in larger regions of the material of the spring sleeve.

FIGS. 40 and 41 show an embodiment of a spring sleeve 18 g, which that corresponds basically to that of FIG. 34, but has several radial arches with an axial undulation wavelength direction whose heights are different in magnitude. Progressive characteristics can be achieved in this way. The spring sleeve 18 g does not have any resilient effect, but rather only a stopping effect with respect to the axial displacement of the bearing.

The embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 42 and 43 shows a radial ondular washer having a radial undulation with a wavelength direction in the peripheral direction, which extends over the entire breadth of the outer ring 4, and wherein the wave heights are different. More flexible progressive characteristics can be achieved in this way.

It is understood that the radial ondular washer 18 h can be supplemented with the lateral walls to form a spring sleeve. In addition, not only can the undulation heights be different but the wavelengths of the undulations can be different as well.

The embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 44 and 45 corresponds to that of FIG. 34, wherein the outer surface of the outer bearing ring 4 is configured without a recess or groove, so that the undulation height of the spring ring 18 i is equal to the possible radial displacement of the bearing. The lateral walls of the spring ring 18 i run parallel to the lateral walls of the outer bearing ring 4, so that the spring sleeve 18 i does not have the function of an axial spring. The spring sleeve 18 d of FIG. 45 corresponds to that of FIG. 34, that is, the spring sleeve 18 d has additionally the function of an axial spring.

FIG. 46 illustrates in the left side of the figure in longitudinal section and in the right side of the figure in lateral view a further embodiment of a radial ondular washer that is configured in the form of a spring sleeve. The outer bearing ring 4 is enclosed by a spring sleeve 18 j made from a plate of spring steel having an overall U-shaped cross section and whose radial lateral walls 66 are supported radially on an annular step 68, which is configured on the lateral face of the outer ring 4. A radial flexibility is achieved by means of an curved shape or radial arch out of the base 70 of the spring sleeve 18 j. The basic stiffness can be influenced via the plate thickness. The characteristic of the spring can be selected by choosing the curvature profile of the base, if required provided with multiple undulations, and/or the contour of the lateral walls 66 in accordance with the intended purpose. For example, the spring characteristic can be influenced in that the base 70 comes into contact with the outer surface of the outer ring 4 after a specific radial deformation. Moreover, the axial flexibility of the spring sleeve 18 k can be influenced by a corresponding configuration of the lateral walls 66 and the neighboring lateral surfaces of the outer bearing ring 4. The radial lateral walls 66 can also contribute to the radial flexibility of the spring sleeve 18 j via an asymmetrical bending within their plane.

An increased flexibility in the peripheral direction can be achieved via radial slots 72 that pass through the base 70 and, in part, the lateral walls 66 of the spring sleeve 18 k. Its radial flexibility is also increased via discontinuing the membrane loads in the outer surface or in the base of the spring sleeve 18 k.

Because the radial lateral walls 66 extensively encompass or surround the outer ring 4, the radial demand for space is minimized, on the one hand, and a relatively high axial flexibility is made possible, on the other hand. A slipping off the lateral walls 66 from the annular step 68 can be prevented, if required, by configuring the step 68 with a corresponding undercut. The spring sleeve 18 j does not have to extend like one piece over the entire periphery of the outer ring 4. It can be configured in the form of two peripheral segments. In the installed state, the cohesion of the spring sleeve is ensured by an accommodating bore or recess of the base 8, wherein the installation of the spring sleeve is facilitated by the curved shape thereof.

A peripheral radial projection 74 of the spring sleeve 18 j, which engages with an annular groove 76 on the base 8, can serve for axially fixing the bearing. The annular groove 76 can be formed by a grading, which is laterally closed off by the annular cover 10 that is attached to the base 8, and which is configured on the inner surface 16 of the base 8. It is understood that in the case wherein small forces are to be absorbed, the spring sleeve 18 k can be radially configured in such a way in terms of flexibility, that it can be pressed from the side into the base together with the inner bearing ring 2 and the outer bearing ring 4 and the roller elements 6 arranged between them, so that the annular groove 76 can penetrate into the inner surface 16.

The embodiment of FIG. 47 differs primarily from that in FIG. 46 in that the axial fixing of the spring sleeve 18 k occurs via the annular surfaces 78 of spacer 78, by means of which the spring sleeve 18 k is supported on a radial lateral surface of the base 8 or the correspondingly configured annular cover 10. The spacers can be made of plastic, for example. An axial pinching of the spring sleeve 18 k as a consequence of a radial displacement can be prevented, if required, by means of an axial clearance, which can be very small, however.

The FIGS. 48 through 50 illustrate embodiments of the decoupling device that work with radial ondular washer segments, which do not enclose entirely the outer bearing ring 4 (FIG. 1), which is not illustrated herein, but enclose it only along a peripheral region of, for example, approximately 180°, and are arranged on the loaded side of the outer bearing ring.

FIG. 48 shows a lateral view of a radial ondular washer segment 181 that extends over more than half of the periphery and is configured similarly with regard to its undulation as, for example, the radial ondular washer 18 b of FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 49, several radial ondular washer segments 181 are arranged axially side by side around the outer ring of the bearing, which is not illustrated. A positioning component 82, which can be configured like a sleeve segment in such a way that they enclose entirely the outer bearing ring 4 together with the radial ondular washer segments 181, serves for positioning the radial ondular washer segments 181 in the peripheral direction. To ensure a fixing in the peripheral direction, the positioning component 82 has axial extensions 84, which engage in the recesses that are formed on the base 8 (FIG. 1). In the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 47 [sic-49?], the positioning component 62 [sic-82?] is configured in such a way that all the radial ondular washer segments 181 are arranged axially side by side without displacement.

In the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 50, the positioning component 82 is provided with recesses and projections on its lateral walls so that neighboring radial ondular washer segments 181 are arranged offset in the peripheral direction. This is advantageous to ensure that the supporting humps 24 and stop humps 26 that can be seen in FIG. 48 (see FIG. 4 for more details), are arranged at intervals.

One advantage that is achieved with the embodiments in accordance with FIGS. 48 through 50 is that the utilization of, for example, expensive punching sheets for the radial ondular washers is clearly improved with respect to the configuration of radial ondular washers that extend over the entire periphery (if required provided with a slot).

The patent claims that are submitted with the patent application are formulation proposals without prejudice for achieving more extensive patent protection. The applicant reserves the right to claim yet other combinations of features that were previously only disclosed in the specification and/or the drawings.

The references made in the dependent claims indicate a further development of the object of the main claim by way of the features of the dependent claim in question; they are in no way to be understood to mean an abandonment of the attainment of independent object-related patent protection for the combinations of features of the referenced dependent claims.

Since the objects of the dependent claims can constitute separate and independent inventions with reference to the prior art on the priority date, the applicant reserves the right to make these the object of independent claims or divisional statements. They can also contain independent inventions that have a configuration that is independent from the objects of the preceding dependent claims.

The exemplary embodiments are not to be understood to constitute a limitation of the invention. Rather, numerous alterations and modifications are possible within the scope of the present disclosure, in particular those variants, elements and combinations, and/or materials that can be deduced by the person skilled in the art for attaining the object of the invention by combining or modifying, for example, features and elements or process steps described in the general specification, the embodiments as well as the claims, and illustrated in the drawings, and which can lead to a new object or to new process steps or process step sequences, also insofar as they concern production, testing and working processes. 

1. A decoupling device for a bearing arrangement of a shaft on a base, in particular a shaft of a belt-driven conical pulley transmission that operates with a chain as the belt, comprising an outer bearing ring configured with a circularly cylindrical outer surface, within which the shaft is mounted, and an inner surface that is rigidly connected to the base and that encloses the outer surface, wherein at least one radial ondular washer, which allows a limited relative radial movement by elastic deformation between the inner surface and the outer surface, is arranged between the outer surface and the inner surface.
 2. The decoupling device of claim 1, wherein at least two radial ondular washers are arranged at intervals axially side by side, between which a stop ring is configured in such a way that, after a predetermined radial relative movement between the outer surface and the inner surface, it comes into contact with the inner surface and the outer surface and prevents a further radial relative movement.
 3. The decoupling device of claim 1, wherein the radial ondular washer is configured inside and outside with supporting humps that are in a constant contact with the outer surface or the inner surface.
 4. The decoupling device of claim 3, wherein the radial ondular washers are provided on their inside and/or outside with stop humps, between which stop humps and the outer surface or the inner surface there is a clearance in the case of a centric arrangement of the inner surface with respect to the outer surface.
 5. The decoupling device of claim 4, wherein the heights of the stop humps differ in such a way that, in the event of a radial displacement of the outer surface relative to the inner surface, several humps, which are spatially separated from each other in the peripheral direction, come into contact with the outer surface or the inner surface.
 6. The decoupling device of claim 1, wherein a positioning device is provided with which at least one radial ondular washer is fixed in the peripheral direction.
 7. The decoupling device of claim 6, wherein the radial ondular washers are slotted, and the positioning device comprises a component that engages with the slot of the radial ondular washers and a recess configured in the inner surface.
 8. The decoupling device of claim 6, wherein the radial ondular washers are slotted and the positioning device is formed by an extension, which engages with the slot of the radial ondular washers configured on the inner surface or the outer surface.
 9. The decoupling device of claim 7, wherein the slot of the radial ondular washer is arranged in such a way relative to the humps configured on the inside and/or the outside of the radial ondular washer, that respective humps of mutually opposite neighboring radial ondular washers, which are mutually rotated by 180°, are offset with respect to each other in the peripheral direction.
 10. The decoupling device of claim 9, wherein the slot runs transversely to the radial direction.
 11. The decoupling device of claim 6, wherein the radial ondular washers are slotted and the positioning device is formed in that the radial ondular washers end in an axially running peg on the side of the slot, wherein the peg of an axially outermost radial ondular washer engages with a recess configured in the base, and the pegs of the inner radial ondular washers each engage with the slot of a neighboring radial ondular washer.
 12. The decoupling device of claim 1, wherein the outer surface and/or the inner surface is provided with a groove, in which at least one radial ondular washer is inserted.
 13. The decoupling device of claim 1, wherein on the outer surface and the inner surface is configured a respective radially running lateral surface, and wherein at least one support component is provided, via which the lateral surfaces mutually support each other axially.
 14. The decoupling device of claim 13, wherein at least one radial ondular washer is provided with radial and axial undulations and limits an axial displaceability between the outer surface and the inner surface.
 15. The decoupling device of claim 1, wherein on the outer surface and the lateral surfaces running radially with respect thereto is fitted a sleeve having an overall U-shaped cross section, between which sleeve and the outer surface is arranged at least one radial ondular washer.
 16. The decoupling device of claim 15, wherein the radial lateral surfaces of the outer surface mutually support each other in an elastically flexible manner in the axial direction on the radial lateral surfaces of the inner surface via the overall radially running curved lateral walls of the sleeve.
 17. The decoupling device of claim 15, wherein the lateral walls of the sleeve are axially supported via at least one axially flexible radial ondular washer in the axial direction in an elastically flexible manner on the component that is configured with the outer surface.
 18. The decoupling device of claim 1, wherein on the outer surface and the lateral surfaces running radially thereto is fitted a spring sleeve that forms the radial ondular washer and has an overall U-shaped cross section, whose overall axis-parallel running base curves out radially.
 19. The decoupling device of claim 18, wherein the base has at least two axially spaced peripheral radial undulations having an axial wavelength direction.
 20. The decoupling device of claim 18, wherein an annular region projects between the radial undulations into a peripheral recess of the outer surface.
 21. The decoupling device of claim 18, wherein the base of the spring sleeve has a radial undulation having a wavelength direction that runs in the peripheral direction.
 22. The decoupling device of claim 18, wherein radial undulations of the base have different heights with a wavelength direction running axially and/or in the peripheral direction.
 23. The decoupling device of claim 18, wherein the radial lateral surfaces of the outer surface are mutually supported in the axial direction in an elastically flexible manner on the radial lateral surfaces of the inner surface via the overall curved radially running lateral walls of the spring sleeve.
 24. The decoupling device of claim 18, wherein the radial lateral walls of the spring sleeve are radially supported on an annular step of the radial lateral surfaces of the outer surface and the base of the spring sleeve resting on the inner surface is configured curved.
 25. The decoupling device of claim 24, wherein the spring sleeve is configured with radial slots that cut through the base.
 26. The decoupling device of claim 24, wherein a peripheral projection of the base engages with an annular groove of the inner surface.
 27. The decoupling device of claim 24, wherein an annular surface on which the spring sleeve is axially supported is configured on at least one lateral surface, which axially limits the inner surface and runs radially inward.
 28. The decoupling device of claim 24, wherein the lateral walls of the spring sleeve are configured so as to be axially and/or radially elastically flexible.
 29. The decoupling device of claim 1, wherein the radial ondular washer is formed by spring segments that extend over parts of the periphery of the inner surface or the outer surface.
 30. The decoupling device of claim 1, wherein the at least one radial ondular washer is arranged on a radially loaded side of the bearing and extends only over part of the periphery, and wherein a positioning device is provided, which fixes the positioning of the at least one radial ondular washer in the peripheral direction.
 31. A radial ondular washer for enclosing at least part of the periphery of a circularly cylindrical outer surface, comprising support humps spaced in the peripheral direction configured on the radial outer side and the radial inner side for a permanent contact on the outer surface and on an inner surface that encloses the outer surface and is concentric with respect to the outer surface.
 32. A radial ondular washer for enclosing at least part of the periphery of a circularly cylindrical outer surface, comprising support humps spaced in the peripheral direction configured on the radial outer side and the radial inner side for a contact on the outer surface and on an inner surface that encloses the outer surface and is normally concentric with respect to the outer surface after a predetermined radial displacement of the outer surface relative to the inner surface.
 33. The radial ondular washer of claim 31, wherein the radial ondular washer has a slot that is arranged in such a way relative to the humps, that if two radial ondular washers are arranged axially side by side, rotated by 180°, and with the slots facing each other, the corresponding humps are mutually offset.
 34. The radial ondular washer of claim 33, wherein the slot runs transversely to the radial direction.
 35. The radial ondular washer of claim 31, wherein the radial ondular washer is provided with radially and axially arched regions.
 36. A radial ondular washer for enclosing at least part of the periphery of a bearing ring configured with a circularly cylindrical outer surface and radial lateral surfaces adjacent thereto, wherein the radial ondular washer is configured as a spring sleeve having an overall U-shaped cross section that encloses at least one peripheral segment of the bearing ring, while at least the base of the spring sleeve has an elastically deformable arched region.
 37. The radial ondular washer of claim 36, wherein the base is configured with a radial projection that runs in the peripheral direction. 